Lamp shade construction



Jan. 5, 1932. c. H. VENNER, JR 1,339,937

' LAMP SHADE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 10, 1928 3 Sheegs-Sheet 1 INVENTOR MAME ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1932. c. H. VENNER, JR 1,839,937

LAMP SHADE CONSTRUCTION Filed 001;. 10, 1928 3 ShBGtS-ShBt 2 INVENTOR BY [Au mm ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1932. c. H. VENNER, JR

LAMP SHADE CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 10, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 TTORNEY Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES CLARENCE H. VENNERQJR OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LAMP SHADE CONSTRUCTION Application filed October 10, 1928. Serial No. 311,531.

This invention relates to a lamp shade and the method of making the same.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and ffective frame for a lamp shade which is economical to manufacture, easily assembled and disassembled and so flexible as not to be broken or bent by collision with any object.

A further object is to provide a cover which can be economically manufactured in quantity and readily placed on the frame and removed therefrom and so related to the frame that regardless of collision, the cover cannot V be injured.

A further object is to provide a combination frame which is of such construction that it can be readily changed into a great number of designs or shapes and that covers corresponding to the designs or shapes of the frame may be readily attached thereto.

A further object is to provide a collar to which the frame is attached, which may be used on the various styles of bulbs used in electric lighting.

A still further object is to provide a lamp shade light in weight and which can be read ily shipped in a flat container and easily assembled into the style desired.

In lamp shades the usual type of frames are rigid and the covers, except the pleated cover type, are firmly secured to the frame.

Furthermore, in most lamp shades the covers are not easily removable and the lamp shades are generally, both as to cover and frame,

ly increases the expense of placing them on the market.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a lamp shade with a flexible frame of wire to which is removably attached a cover of material such as paper, cloth, linen, silk, etc., which can be reinforced in places and either shrunk when in position on the frame or formed before being placed on the frame. The frame elements are so connected to a collar and to each other that they form a series of truss members which are substantially rigid on their inner ends but flexible at their 0 outer ends to permit the frame to boW in one bulky and cumbersome to ship which naturaldirection or another ithout damage either to the frame or to the cover.

I provide a lamp shade in which the collar is formed from a flat piece of metal so shaped that the circumference of one end Will be greater than the circumference at the other. At one end of said collar prongs, stamped from the same piece of metal, extend. The ends of these prongs have holes punched in them, while the sidewall of the collar has '60 punched in it adjacent the two circumferential ends at predetermined distances, two series of spring ears. These ears may also. be punched intermediate of the two ends. The said series of ears face opposite each other '65 and inthe spaces between each series and the adjacent circumferential end there ispunched a series of small holes.

The material out of which the collar'is formed is preferably copper-brass, although any springy material will do. The fiat sheet punched out as described is formed into a collar, preferably of truncated cone shape, the edges of the sides being bent over and locked. The material should have suflicient spring so that thetwo edges will remain locked. The ears provide the anchorage for ribs and bracing members in one modified form of my invention, while in another, the ears provide the anchorage for bracing menr bers While the holes punched adjacent the circumferential end above the ears form the anchorage for theribs. The ribs and bracing members are preferably made of wire and are connected integrally at their outer ends by soldering or, preferably, by using a single continuous piece of wire. The ribs and bracing members are loosely looped around each other to form a sliding connection. Between the sliding connection and-the collar these elements form a substantially rigid truss While beyond this sliding connection they form a flexible support for a cover to be positioned on this frame.

- The rigidity of the truss members gives the frame strength and the flexibility of the outer portions thereof permits it. to bow readily in either direction. The truss effect of the frame permits it to be maintained in anyv desired contour while the cover is maintained with a smooth and even appearance.

By varying the distance of the loop sliding connection from the ends of the truss members the contour of the outer portion of the frame can be changed. By varying the distance along the bracing member between the loop connection and the inner end of the bracing member the general slope of the ribs with respect to the collar can be varied. By varying the lengths of the ribs and varying the distance of the ribs to the loop sliding connection, the design of the frame may also be varied.

The cover of the shade may be made of one or more pieces and may be reinforced at the upper and lower openings. Pockets are formed in the cover by turning over the material along the edge of the cover and may be held to the cover by any method desired, or the outer edge of the cover may be attached to the frame at designated points by cli s or by light stitching.

The preferred forms of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the collar as unched out from a sheet of metal before oing locked.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the collar after the two edges are locked together- Figure 3 is a side elevation in cross section of the collar and frame positioned on a table lamp.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the collar with the ribs in place.

Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of the collar with the ribs in place.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation in cross section of the collar and framework positioned on an upright bulb.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation in cross section of the collar and framework positioned on an inverted bulb.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation in cross section of the collar and framework positioned on the socket of an upright bulb.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a section of the collar showing the ears punched therein and the holes eliminated.

Fig. 10 is adetailed cross section of the collar and framework.

Fig. 11 is an elevation of the frame member the rib portion of which is hooked at the free end.

Fig. 12 is a frame member the rib portion of which is looped at the free end.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation in cross section of the rib and framework with shade attaehed positioned on a double socket lamp.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 13 showing in dotted lines the position assumed by the framework and shade when the space between the double bracket is wider.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the shade cut out but not formed.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged side elevation in cross section of the collar with the rib hooked therein.

The lamp shade construction comprises a collar 10 made of spring brass or steel or other suitable material having some springiness. This collar is made by punching out a flat sheet of metal in the shape shown in Fig. 1. The upper circumferential edge is provided with a series of holes 1. The lower circumferential edge is provided with a series of holes 3. Between these series of holes are punched two oppositely disposed series of ears 2 and 4, alternate ears in each series being spaced unequally from the circumferential edges to enable different shapes of shades to be made with the same collar. The upper edge of the collar is provided with prongs 5 in the free ends of which are punched holes 6. The perpendicular edges 7 and 8 of the collar 10 are bent back on the collar in opposite directions so that they engage each other when the collar is formed in the truncated cone shape shown in Fig. 2, and lock due to the springiness of the material. Obviously, a material must be selected which has sufiicient spring to hold the edges 7 and 8 in locked position. The perpendicular edges of the collar may be locked in other ways such as by putting eyes at each end of the edges 7 and 8 so that they will register when the collar is formed and then inserting a pin through the registered holes to thereby lock the collar. However, the method of locking illustrated has been satisfactory and has the advantage of being less complicated.

The frame of my shade consists of a series of rib-and-bracing members mounted on the collar, two preferred forms of which are shown in Figs. 11 and 12. These members comprise a rib member 9 and a bracing member 11, shorter in length than the rib member. The two members are loosely looped around each other as shown at 12, forming a sliding connection. The two members are integrally connected at one end 13 and at the other end are free.

In Fig. 11 the free end 14 of the rib is shown hooked, while in Fig. 12, the free end 14 of the rib is looped. The free end 15 of the bracing member is looped in either instance.

The rib-and-bracing member as shown in the drawings is formed from a single piece of wire but, if desired, the rib may be formed of one piece of wire and the bracing member of another in which case wire of different diameters may be used for the two members. By using wires of different diameters either one of the members may be made stiffer than the other and the contour of the shade thus changed. Where two separate pieces of wire are used, they are joined at one end by any suitable means and at their free end are shaped just as the integral members shown in Figs. 11 and 12. The sliding connection 12 instead of being looped as illustrated may be formed by soldering an eye on one member and passing the other through it or a metal clip may be used in place of the eye. The particular form of sliding connection may be made by the above methods or any other mechanical equivalents, the important point being that the two members must be able to slide relative to each other so that a blow on the shade will exert a gradual pres sure on the framework, not a rigid jolt.

The rib-and-bracing members are pivot ally mounted on the collar 10 to form a flexible wire frame as follows: Using a rib-and-bracing member such as shown in Fig. 11, the free end 14 of the rib is hooked in one of the series of holes 1 or 3 and the free end 15 of the bracing member is hooked over one of the series of ears 2 or 4. lVhether the rib-andbracing members are to be attached to the series of holes 1 or 3 and the series of ears 2 or 4 depends upon the style and position of the frame on the bulb desired. This will be shown more in detail when discussing the various ways of mounting the lamp shade upon difiierent fixtures. Figs. 4 and 16 show how the free end 14 of the rib member is positioned in one of the holes 1. In Fig. 4 the prongs 5 are all bent toward the center until they are in horizontal position so that the holes 6 register with each other and thus permit the collar 10 to he slipped over the end of the pipe of the table lamp to hold the framework of the shade securely. Fig. 3 shows the lamp shade framework so assem bled on a table lamp with the ornamental tip 25 of the pipe screwed down on the prongs. Fig. 10 shows in detail how the rib-and brac ing member is positioned on the collar.

Referring to this Fig. 10, it will be seen that the rib 9 down to the loop 12 and the bracing member 11 down to the loop 12 form a triangular brace with the side of the collar 10. This triangular brace or truss is substan tially rigid but beyond the loop 12 where the rib member and the bracing member run parallel to each other to the outer end of the frame is flexible.

In Fig. 5 is shown the position of the loop 15 of the free end of the bracing member 11 on the collar 10. The loop 15 has been hooked over one of the ears 4. The inherent springiness of the wire of which the rib-and-bracing member is formed holds the loop 15 securely in the ear and prevents it from being disengaged.

From the above description it is seen how the rib-and-bracing members are mounted on the collar. Any number of these members so mounted form the flexible framework for the shade. The exact number of rib-and-bracing members may be greatly varied, depending upon the shape of the shade desired. It is obvious that if ribs of eq length amused the greater the number is, the nearer the shade will approach a circle in shape.

Examples of the framework, which includes thecollar 10 and the rib-and-bracing members mounted thereon, positioned on the various types of electric lightfixtures, are shown. As before stated, Fig. 3 shows this framework mounted on a table lamp. In this type of lamp the threaded end of the pipe is run through the registered holes 6 of the collar and thereafter the ornamental tip of the pipe is screwed on, holding the framework of the shade very securely. In this illustration, it will be noted that the rib member is hooked through one of the holes 1 and the bracing member is looped through one of the ears 4.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated the position of the frame on an upright electric light bulb. In this position, the prongs 5 have not been bent horizontally, but have been bent convexly so that when the collar is slipped on a bulb, of any size, the springy prongs grip the bulb and hold the frame in place. In this illustration, the free ends of the rib members 9 are hooked through the holes 3 while the free ends of the bracing members are hooked through the ears 2. This shows the ribs and bracing members assembled in exactly the opposite position from Fig. 3.

In Fig. 7- the position of the framework on an inverted bulb is shown. In this illustration the prongs 5 are bent inwardly past the horizontal and the position of the shade on the bulb is secured by the prongs engaging either the lower part of the light bulb or its socket, it being noted that the framework is low' enough to permit manipulation of the switch 17 above it. In this position the lower edge of the collar 10 rests on the bulb and helps hold the shade firmly. The exact point on the neck at which the prongs will contact of course, depends on the shape of the bulb. Notch 18 is shown in the collar 10 in this figure. The purpose of this notch is to permit a chain switchto pass between the collar 10 and the shade of the lamp. The chain is not shown in this figure but it can be easily seen that it would pass through the notch 18 and then drop vertically down below the bulb so that it wouldbe easily accessible.

In Fig. 8 the position of the framework on an upright bulb is shown. In this figure the collar is shown placed beneath the bulb with the prongs 5 bent inwardly past the horizontal as in Fig. 7 and engaging the socket of the lamp. The shade acts as a reflector toward the ceiling when so positioned. The rib-and-bracing members in this framework are those shown in Fig. 12. The rib member has its free end 14 looped over one of the ears 4 and the bracing member has its free end looped over one of the ears 2. It is for the purpose of being able to use the ears as anchorages for both the free ends of the rib member and the free end of the bracing member that the modification shown in Fig. 12 is useful. However, in most cases the hooked free end of the rib memher as shown in Fig. 11 is more useful.

Although the rib-and-bracing member shown in Fig. 12 is used in the framework in Fig. 8, the rib-and-bracing member shown in Fig. 11 can be used due to the modified form of collar shown here which has the ears punched very close to the circumferential ends. As shown in Fig. 9, in this form of collar the ear is punched close enough to the end so that the hole left by punching out the ear can function similarly to the one of the series of holes 1 and 3. The hooked end of the rib passes through this hole when the rib-and-bracing member shown in Fig, 11 is used.

By comparing Fig. 8 with Fig. 7 the advantage of making my collar the shape of a truncated cone is brought out. Using the same rib-and-bracing members in both positions two different shaped shades will be formed because the ribs are pivoted at the smaller end of the collar in Fig. 8 and at the larger end in Fig. 7, giving the shade two different shapes. A collar with parallel sides could be used but it would not have this advantage of making two different shaped shades by reversing the collar.

The cover to be used with this framework is preferably made of paper although other materials such as cotton, linen, silk, etc., may be used. The cover is usually made from one piece but not necessarily as several pieces may be joined together to form it. Fig. 15 shows a piece of material cut out in the shape of a cover. The tabs 18 are bent over and are either pasted or sewed down around their edges to form pockets and to reinforce the shade. These pockets are to receive the outer ends 13 of the rib-and-bracing members and may be made in other ways than the above. For instance, the outer edge of the cover may be bent back throughout its length and sewed or pasted in this position leaving narrow spaces unsewed every so often to form pockets; or the pockets may be formed by pasting squares of material on the under side of the shade at the desired points. After the pockets have been formed, the edges 19 and 20 are pasted or sewed together and the shade is then ready to be mounted on the frame.

To mount the shade on the frame it is placed over the frame and the flexible outer ends of the ribs are simply bent back and fitted in the pockets of the shade and then permitted to return to their normal position; the shade will then be securely mounted in the frame. Another method of mounting the shade is to place the ribs in the pockets before the free ends of the bracing members are hooked in their respective ears; after hooking the bracing members in the ears, the shade will be securely mounted on the frame.

After the cover is mounted on the frame as above, it may be dipped or sprayed with fire proofing liquid or liquid which will cause a shrinkage of the shade material. lVhen dry the shade will be snugly and smoothly fitted on the frame.

To disassemble the lamp shade it is only necessary to remove the ribs from the pockets in the shade by bending the ribs, then removing the cover. The rib-and-bracing members can then be easily unhooked from the collar which in turn is unlocked by contacting the collar slight-1y to permit the edges 7 and 8 to slip by each other and then flatten out. As the shade can be folded fiat, every art of the disassembled lamp shade will lie 1' at and it can easily be transported in a flat package.

In Figs. 13 and 14; is shown my lamp shade positioned on a double bracket containing two electric light bulbs. In this assembly the collar 10 is held by the prongs 5 on each bulb and ribs projecting toward the center of the bracket are on'litted and only one shade is used. This shade is elongated in shape and supported at the ends by ribs mounted in the collar adjacent each end. The plan view 1 clearly indicates how the lamp shade is assembled. In this type of bracket there is usually some variation in the distance between the two bulbs and for this reason the shade 21 made with a short pleated section 22 so that the shade is adapted to be mounted on brackets of different widths. he shade, mounted on a wider bracket than it "as expected would be used, is shown in dotted lines, Fig. 14. The only difference in the shade so mounted is that the pleating is pulled out a little and the ribs have swung clockwise slightly. Instead of the pleats a single pleat, much wider than the individual pleats may be used and in such case it is fastened with a paper clip when used on a narrow bracket, and let out when used on a wide one. The type of bracket shown in Figs. 13 and 14 is the usual doubie wall bracket and therefore the pleat 22 of the shade, if placed in the rear, willv not be noticeable. My lamp shade, when used on a wall bracket, has another advantage in that the side facing the wall may have very short ribs while the front may have long ribs supporting a wider front section of the lamp shade. This is often useful where the bracket is so close to the wall that there is no room for a long rib and avoids the unpleasant glare of the light against the wall which is always present where just a shield in front of the bulb is used, the common expedient today when a bracket is close to the wall.

Although I ha e described several modifications of my lamp shade and methods of mounting it on several different light fixtures, it is obvious that the shade is not limited to to show a few of the most useful and effective forms of the shade which is obviously adapted to be modified in countless Ways.

The invention claimed is:

1. A lamp shade construction comprising a collar, a rib member and a bracing member, said members being integrally connected at one end and pivotally and demountably connected attheir other ends at spaced points to said collar.

2. A lamp shade construction comprising a truncated cone-shaped collar having holes and ears punched therein to engage the rib members and bracing members of a frame.

3. A lamp shade construction comprising a collar, means for attaching a frame thereto, and prongs of springy material extending from said collar having holes punched in the outer ends thereof, said prongs being adapted to support the lamp shade construction by engaging the surface of an electric light bulb, the socket holding said bulb, or the supporting pipe of a floor lamp.

4. A lamp shade construction including a frame comprising a rib member and a bracing member of wire, both pivotally attached at space points to a collar at one end and integrally connected to each other at the other end, the body portion of one of said members being bent around the other in the form of a loop to provide a loose sliding connection intermediate the ends of said members.

5. A lamp shade construction comprising a collar having a series of holes adjacent one end thereof and a series of ears in the side thereof near the opposite end, ribs pivoted to the end having the holes punched therein, and bracing members connected to the ribs and hooked under the ears of the collar.

6. A lamp shade construction including frame elements, comprising rib members and bracing members, said members connected together at the outer end and to a collar at the inner ends at spaced points along said collar, one of said members being looped over the other intermediate the ends, the distance of the point of formation of said loop from the outer end of the frame element determining the shape of the outer edge of the frame, the distance of the point of formation of the loop from the looped end of the bracing member determining the general slope of the frame.

7 A lamp shade construction including a truncated cone-shaped collar, a frame mounted thereon comprising a rib member and a bracing member connected at spaced points to said collar, and means on said collar for reversing the frame with relation to the collar.

8. A lamp shade construction comprising a collar, a rib member and a bracing member, both of said members attached at spaced points to the collar at one end and integrally connected to each other at the other end, the body portion of one of said members being bent around the other in the form of a loop to provide a loose sliding connection intermediate the ends of said members.

9. As an element in a lamp shade frame, a rib member and a bracing member integrally connected to each other at one end and carrying hook means at their other ends, the body portion of one of said members being bent around the other in the form of a loop to provide a loose sliding connection intermediate the ends of said members.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 9th day of October, A. D. 1928.

CLARENCE H. VENNER, JR. 

